Stage names:

Kataoka Ichizô III
Kataoka Chôjûrô II
Kataoka Gakusaburô I
Mimasu Kamezô

Nickname: Kataichi

Guild: Matsushimaya

Line number: SANDAIME (III)

Poetry name: Gashô

Existence: 27 April 1851 ~ 11 December 1906

Connections:

Grandfather: Kataoka Nizaemon VII

Father: Kataoka Shimamaru

Masters: Kataoka Nizaemon VIII, Mimasu Daigorô IV

Brothers: Mimasu Inemaru I, Kataoka Gatô II

Adopted son: Kataoka Ichizô IV

Career:

27 April 1851: born in Ôsaka in the district of Sôemon-chô. He is the fourth son of Kataoka Shimamaru, son of Kataoka Nizaemon VII, who gave up acting to become a painter called Nishikawa Kuniharu (he was also called Kameya Kichibei or Sumidagawa Hikoroku).

Spring 1855: he starts his career as a disciple of the actor Mimasu Daigorô IV, who gives him the name of Mimasu Kamezô.

27 April 1858: his first brother Mimasu Inemaru I dies. Kamezô temporarily gives up acting and becomes decchi for the money changer Kokubun Yabei, who manages his shop in the district of Mitsudera-chô.

1863: Kamezô goes to Kyôto to take care of his third brother, a Temple bonze, who suffers from a serious eye disease.

1866: after the recovery of his third brother, he goes back to the Kabuki world, becoming a disciple of the actor Kataoka Nizaemon VIII, thanks to the help of his second brother Kataoka Gatô II; he receives the name of Kataoka Gakusaburô I.

1869: Kataoka Gakusaburô I takes the name of Kataoka Chôjûrô II.

22 November 1871: his second brother Kataoka Gatô II dies.

1877: Kataoka Chôjûrô II takes the name of Kataoka Ichizô III.

Summer 1878: Ichizô settles in Tôkyô.

August 1879: Ichizô takes part in the opening ceremony of the Hisamatsuza [info].

May 1888: première at the Chitoseza of Kawatake Shinshichi III's drama "Kagotsurube Sato no Eizame"; Ichizô plays the role of Gompachi [casting].

May 1897: Ichizô plays at the Ichimuraza the role of Genshichi in the drama "Kamiyui Shinza"; the role of Shinza is played by Onoe Kikugorô V.

November 1906: Ichizô suddenly falls ill while performing on tour at the Suehiroza in the Tochigi Prefecture. He goes back to Tôkyô and dies there the 11th of December 1906. His tombstone is located in the precincts of the Honmonji Temple.

Comments:

Kataoka Ichizô III was a katakiyaku actor of the Meiji era. He was better in sewamono than jidaimono. He became a great fukeyaku in his latter years. He also had the reputation to be extremely talented in literary arts.

Kataoka Ichizô III playing the role of Soga no Iruka in the drama "Imoseyama Onna Teikin", which was staged in March 1894 at the Kabukiza (print made by Utagawa Kuniteru)

Print made by Utagawa Kunisada in 1892

The Kataoka Ichizô line of actors